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Twice a year, in Spring and Autumn, the number plates of England, Wales and Scotland change. This September sees the start of the 66-plate, a period which will run until next February. All cars registered over the next six months will wear a plate with the '66' age identifier – something that will give it a very slight advantage on the second-hand market over cars with 16 plates.

Here are our five favourite deals to see in the new 66-plate category.

Renault Zoe

The best value electric car

The Zoe is a small, fully-electric hatchback from French manufacturer Renault. It’s characterful, stylish and has earned glowing praise from both Andrew English and Rebecca Jackson. Clever use of space and a strong safety record make this a compelling buy for small families or anyone in search of a second, all-electric vehicle.

The Renault Zoe is a conventionally attractive car with eye-catching French styling

Renault is offering a colossal £6,000 dealer deposit contribution. That means you can pay £1,499 and drive silently away in one of these EVs, paying £189 per month for 25 months. That includes the mandatory £80 battery rental fee, something you don’t have to worry about in primitive internal combustion vehicles.

The optional final payment is £5,735, meaning you’d pay a total of £16,098 for your Zoe if you wanted to keep it. But by that stage, there’ll be better electric cars on the market.

Ford Edge

All-American hero

Ford has been slow to enter the SUV market in the UK, but the Edge is its most convincing attempt yet. Previous models such as the gargantuan Explorer and unappealing EcoSport never really gained traction in a market dominated by established crossover and SUV models like the Nissan Juke, Kia Sportage, Volkswagen Tiguan and Peugeot 2008.

The Ford Edge doesn't have the look or feel of a European SUV, but it is comfortable and very big

Large and lumbering, the Edge is up against refined German rivals, inexpensive Korean competitors from Hyundai and Kia, as well as premium British models from Land Rover. It’s unclear whether Ford will find a niche for itself with the Edge considering the wealth of alternatives on offer. But you can have this supersized slice of America for just £306 per month and you’ll only pay around £30 more overall on finance than if you bought it with cash.

Dacia Sandero

Value on wheels

Made famous by a certain automotive television programme, this inexpensive hatchback is one of the cheapest full-fat cars on the road. Available for around £6,000 cash, this five-seat, five-door family car is a deal on four wheels, offering extremely basic motoring for the price you’d otherwise pay for a second-hand car.

Good news! The Sandero is still a basic car with a basic price – but don't pick the 'Access' trim level

It really is basic, though. That headline price will buy a car that doesn’t even have a radio, let alone satellite navigation and bluetooth connectivity. You do have to rise through the trim levels to reach a car you’d actually want to spend time in, and by that point the price has become a little bit less attractive.

Volkswagen Beetle

The Love Bug returns

The Beetle has had an interesting history. Since it made its first air-cooled journey out of 1930s Germany, it’s taken on all sorts of social and political symbolisms around the world. Volkswagen is currently experiencing a period of negative press, and the Beetle was one of the many VW Group models affected by the Dieselgate emissions scandal, but the new Beetle – introduced in 2011 – is an unnecessarily good car.

The Volkswagen Beetle has changed a lot since it was first invented – largely for the better

Volkswagen is offering an across-the-board £3,000 discount on the Beetle. That means you can buy a top-of-the-range model for £21,720. Even more interestingly, the cheapest model has been reduced from £16,540 to £13,540, which is brilliant value.

When the ‘new Beetle’ concept was revealed to the world, it paved the way for retro-styled cars such as the ‘new Mini’ and the ‘new Fiat 500’. With these competitors in mind, £3,000 off the price of the latest Beetle makes a lot of sense.

Suzuki Swift

A simple supermini

Suzuki is a relatively small brand in the UK, but enjoys a disproportionate amount of affection from owners and enthusiasts. Famed for reliability and no-nonsense utilitarian machines, the longevity of its models puts other manufacturers to shame. Its been selling its venerable little Jimny for almost twenty years.

The Suzuki Swift is one of the best-priced cars on the market today

The Swift is its supermini. Less ‘premium’ than its German rivals but with a much lower list price, it competes mainly with even smaller cars and those from Korea. The very basic trim level comes with few creature comforts but the car is a fundamentally enjoyable one to own.

On finance, the Swift SZ3 is available for £99 per month after a deposit of £3,113. You end up paying £10,749 if you go for the optional final payment, which represents good value. Those in search of a sportier experience (the Swift is already a satisfying car to drive) then look at the Swift Sport – a more expensive choice, but arguably the most fun-per-pound currently on sale.